Dustless venetian window blind



May 8, 1951 L. CHARTQFF v 2,552,406

DUSTLESS VENETIAN WINDOW BLIND Filed July 16, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 8, 1951 CHARTOFF 2,552,406 v DUSTLESS VENETIANWINDOW BLIND Filed July 16, 1948 5 ASheets--Sheet 2 May 8, 1951 L. cHARTor-F DUSTLESS VENETIAN WINDOW BLIND 3 Sheets-Sheet, 3

Filed July 16, 1948 f mln-JH .IIIJ- n Z 34 v P V EL Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATE eTENT OFFICE.

DUSILESS VENETIAN WINDOW BLIND Louis Charto, New Haven, Conn.

ApplicationJuly 16, 1948, Serial No. 39,11?.k

(Cl. ,Z-62) 4 Claims. l

This invention relates to dustless Venetian window blinds, wherein the louvers or slats are supported in a vertical position andare intercon nected in a manner whereby they may be turned about their vertical axes to open and close the louvers or slats. Y

One of the principal objects of this invention is the production of a simple and eiiicient means for detachably or removably supporting the louvers or slats of the Venetian blind so that the slats or louvers may be removed or replaced when desired, and also to efficiently support the same in rotatable vertical position.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and eicient means for shifting the vertical louvers or slats to and fromV an open and shut position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a front f elevational view of the Venetian blind with certain parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the frame of the blind;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view;

Figure 4 is a group perspective view ofthe upper Slat-supporting member, and. one of the pivot pin anchoring plates;

Figure 5 is a vfragmentary sectional perspective View of the upper Slat-supporting member and one of the anchoring plates, andalso showing one of the retaining spring clips;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of one of the pivot pin anchoring plates; s

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the lower end of one of the slats;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an enlarged front elevationalview illustrating the lower end of the Venetian blind and frame, and showing the shifting bars in place;

Figure 10 is a top plan ViewV of the shifting bars in position upon the frame, the frame and pivot pins of the slats being shown in transverse section;

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional View taken on line II-II of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view through the upper shifting bar;

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view through the lower shifting bar;

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the upper slatsupporting member and the Slat-anchoring member assembled, a portion of the supporting member being broken off to show the construction of the anchoring member.

Figure 15 is a front elevational view of a modified form of the invention, wherein the slats are divided into upper and lower groups, separately operated;

Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line Iii-IS of Figure 15 showing the central Slat-supporting means detached fromthe window frame;

Figure 17 is a front elevational view of the central Slat-supporting means shown in Figure 15 and illustrating one end of the Slat-supporting means anchored to the window frame.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that Ill designates the window frame within which is preferably set a window blind frame I I, as shown in Figure 1- The window blind frame II is provided with a top member I2` and a sill member I3. An upper louver or Slat-carrying means I4 is secured to the under side of the top member I2,V and a lower louver or Slat-carrying means I5 is mounted upon the sill member I3, as shown in detail in Figure 3.

The upper louver or Slat-carrying means I4 comprises an elongated angle member or bar I6 which is suspended from the top member I2y by means of suitable suspending brackets Il. The member or bar I is provided with a forwardly extending flange IB and this flange I8 is provided with. a longitudinally extending slot I9 which slot I9 terminates at the opposite ends of the flange I8 in enlarged apertures 2S., Ar pair of Slat-anchoring plates 2| and22 which areangu-` lar in cross sectonsldably engage the bar I5, as shown in Figure 3. The anchoring plate 22 is provided with an inwardly extending iiange 26 which snugly ts against the under face ofthe flange I 8 of the bar I6. Retaining brackets 23 and 24 are secured to the rear face of the 'bar I near its ends and extend under the outer ends of the anchoring plates 2l and 22 to assist in supporting the anchoring plates 2I and. 22 in position on the bar I6. A central retaining bracket 25 of similar construction spans the inner ends of the anchoring plates 2l and 22 to support the inner ends of the anchoring plates 2I and 22 in place. Spring clips 28, 29 and 3i! preferably are secured to the top member I2 and releasably engage the front faces of the anchoring plates to releasably hold the anchoring plates in a set position. The flange 26 of the plate 22 is provided with inwardly extending transverse slots 21 which extend inwardly from the outer edge of the flange 26 toward the longitudinal center thereof, as shown in Figures 6 and 14. The companion anchoring plate 2i is similarly provided with spaced slots 3|. A knob 32 is carried by each plate 2| and 22 to facilitate the placing of the plates into position, or the removing of the plates. Each plate 2| and 22 preferably extends for one-half of the length of the bar IE.

A bottom or lower Slat-carrying member rests upon the sill member |3 and comprises an angle bar 34 in an inverted position having its flange 35 extending in a forward direction in alignment with the ange |8 of the bar I6. The flange 35 is provided with a longitudinal slot 35 having an aperture at each end similar to the aperture 26 Shown in Figure 4. A pair of slatretaining plates 3l and 38 similar to the plates 2| and 22 fit upon the bar 34 in a manner similar to that described relative to plates 2| and 22 only in an inverted position, as shown in detail in Figure 3 as to plate 33. The plates 3l and 38 are provided with transverse slots similar to the slots 2': and 3| of plates 22 and 2i such as the slot 39 shown in Figure 3. The slots in the plates 2| and 22 are in Vertical alignment with the slots of plates 3l and 38. The 4bar 34 is anchored to the sill member i3 by means of brackets 43 and the anchoring plates 38 are detachably held in place upon the bar 34 by the front spring clips 4| similar to the brackets 24 previously described.

A plurality of louvers or slats 43 are arranged in vertical relation within the blind frame El. Each slat 43 is provided with an upper journal shaft 44 and a lower journal shaft 45. The upper shafts 44 t within the slot I9 of the bar l and the lower shafts fit in a similar slot 36 of the lower bar 34. It should be understood that the bars |S and 34 are constructed as shown in Figure 4 and are only mounted in reverse position, the structure being the same as illustrated in Figure 4. The plates 2| and 22 and the plates 31 and 38 are all constructed as shown in Figure 4, and the plates 3l and 38 merely are mounted in a reverse position to the mounting of the plates 2| and 22. The illustration in Figure 4 is typical of the structure of plates and bars above mentioned. The shafts 44 and 45 are inserted in the slots of the bars i6 and 34 by inserting the y.

enlarged heads such as the head 46 through one of the apertures such as the aperture 20 and then moving the slat to its proper position relative to the other slats. Each shaft 44 and 45 is constructed in accordance with the detail showing in Figure '7, comprising the outer head 46 and the inwardly spaced collar 41. The transverse slots 2l and 3| of the plates 22 and 2l engage the respective shafts 44 to hold the same in spaced relation within the slot I9, and similar transverse slots such as the slot 39 shown in Figure 3 in the plates 3l and 38 hold the respective shafts 45 of the slats 43 in spaced relation in the slot 36 of the lower or bottom bar 34. rlhe slats 43 preferably are divided into two groups, one group being anchored in position by the plates 2| and 3l, and the other group being anchored in position by the plates 22 and 38 as shown in Figure l. In this way one-half of the slats may be removed or released at a time when and if desired.

Each slat 43 is provided with a depending headed pin 48 at its lower end near one side edge thereof. A pair of actuating rods 49 and 50 are mounted transversely of the window frame i below the lower ends of the slats 43 and are slidably Figure 11.

mounted through the supporting brackets 5| and 52, these brackets being secured at opposite sides of the frame i3. The rods 49 and 5S are mounted one above the other, as shown, and are separated by the central transverse anchoring screws 53 and 54 of the brackets. The brackets are provided with ends 55 which receive anchoring screws 55 (see Figure l1) and coil springs 5l are interposed between the ends 55 and the frame l! to yieldably space the brackets away from the frame lil and provide a means for increasing or decreasing the tension of the brackets upon the rods 49 and Eli in a manner as will be obvious by considering By tightening the screws 5? the frictional engagement of the brackets upon the bars 43 and 5|] may be regulated to hold these bars against accidental sliding movement after the tilting position of the slats has been selectively set.

The bar 49 is provided with a plurality of spaced spring clips 5B which may be of any suitable design to detachably engage the depending pins 48 of a selected group of slats. The bar is also provided with spaced spring clips 53 which are bent upwardly to engage the pins of the remaining group of slats, the bar 50 being located below the bar 49. In this way the clips will have their pin-gripping ends in alignment. The clips preferably are secured to the actuating bars by being secured thereto in countersunk relation. However, they may be secured in any desired manner without departing from the spirit of the invention. The bar 49 is provided with an upwardly extending handle located at one side of the frame l and the bar 5U is provided with a handle 6| located at the opposite side of the frame I0 to facilitate the sliding of the bars and, the swinging of the slats to the desired position upon their vertical axes.

The structure set forth above provides a Venetian blind, the slats of which are mounted in a vertical position which position will tend to .pre- Vent dust from settling thereon as would be the case if the slats extended in a horizontal position. By operating or rotating the slats in individual groups, one group may be moved to an open or partly open position, while the other group may be closed, or vice versa. It should be noted that any number of groups may be selectively operated by adding the desired number of actuating bars, such as therbars 49 and 54 without departing from the spirit of the invention. The slats also may be mounted so that any desired number or groups may be removably held in place by the anchoring plates, such for instance as by the plates 2|, 22, 31 and 38.

In Figures 15 to 17 inclusive, there is shown a modified form of the invention wherein a window frame 10 is illustrated which supports an upper slat supporting means 1|, intermediate Slat-supporting means 'I2 and 13, preferably near the center of the frame 1D, and a bottom Slat-supporting means 14. Each Slat-supporting means is of the same general structure as described relative to Figures 1 to 14 inclusive, and a description of the details which are common to both forms is not necessary. A plurality of upper slats l5 are supported between the upper Slat-supporting means and the upper intermediate Slat-supporting means 12. A plurality of lower slats i6 are supported between the upper intermediate slat-supporting means I3 and the lower Slat-supporting means '14, thereby dividing-the slats into upper and lower groups. The slats 'l5 are in turn divided into two separate groups and the slats 'It also are divided into two separate groups. The upper slats 'l5 are detachably anchored in separate groups upon the supporting means 1| and l2 by means of removable plates 11, 18, 'I9 and 88. The lower slats 16 are detachably anchored in separate groups upon the supporting means 13 and 14 by means of removable plates 8l, 82, 83 and 84 of the same structural type as described and illustrated relative to Figures 1 to 14 inclusive.

Operating or actuating bars 85 and 86 are detachably connected to the slats 15 of the respective groups by means of spring clips 8l and 88 respectively in a manner similar to that illustrated in the preferred form to rotate the slats 'l5 on their vertical axes 89. These bars 85 and 86 are slidable transversely of the frame 'i8 through the brackets 90 and 9| mounted upon opposite sides of the frame. Similar actuating bars 92 and 93 actuate the lower slats 16 in a similar manner as shown in Figures l5 and 16. These bars 92 and 93 also are slidably mounted through the brackets 90 and 9|. The handles of the bars are so arranged as not to interfere with the selective operation of the bars. The bars may be suitably spaced within the brackets 98 and 9| by any desired or convenient means, such for instance as by means of screws similar to the screw 54 shown in Figure 11.

The two intermediate slat-supporting means l2 and 'i3 preferably are supported in position upon the frame Til by means of suitable brackets such as the bracket Sill shown in detail in Figure 17. the inner faces at opposite sides of the frame 18 to hold the slats l5 and 1B in Vertical alignment. The slats l5 and T6 are secured to the intermediate slat-supporting means by means of the journals 95 and 96 respectively, in a manner similar to the journals 44 and d'5 shown in Figure 3.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A Venetian blind comprising, a vertically disposed frame deiining an opening to be served by the blind, a pair of elongated bars secured adjacent the upper and lower extremities of the frame and horizontally transverse the opening, an elongated slot formed longitudinally in each of said bars, a plurality of blind slats disposed vertically in said frame opening, each slat being provided with journals extending beyond the extremities thereof and said journals having sliding engagement in the slots of the two remote bars, a plurality of elongated plates each provided with a series of longitudinally spaced slots extending transversely from one common edge. of said plates, said plates being secured adjacent both slat supporting bars to overlap the longitudinal slots therein, each transverse slot in said plates engaging one journal of one of said slats locking the slats in spaced relationship longitudinally of the support bars, spring clips secured to the frame and urging the plate members into overlapping engagement with the supporting bars, and means for rotating said slats about their journals.

2. A Venetian blind comprising, a vertically disposed frame dening an opening to be served by the blind, a pair of elongated bars secured adjacent the upper and lower extremities of the frame and horizontally transverse the opening, an elongated slot formed longitudinally in each of said bars, a plurality of blind slats disposed vertically in said frame opening, each slat being provided with journals extending beyond the ex- These brackets 9d preferably are secured to tremities thereof and said journals havingsliding engagement in the slots ofV the two remote bars, a plurality o elongated plates each provided with a series of longitudinally spaced slots extending transversely from one common. edge of said plates, saidplates being secured adjacent both slat supporting bars to overlap the longitudinal slots therein, each transverse slot in said plates engaging one journal of one of said slats locking the slats in spaced relationship longitudinally ofthe support bars, spring clips secured to the frame and urging the plate members into overlapping engagement With the supporting bars, a rod slidably secured transverse the frame, said rod having quick releasable connection with each of said slats, and said connection being at a point on said slats eccentric to the journal axis thereof.

3. A Venetian blind comprising, a vertically disposed frame dening an opening to be served by the blind, a pair of elongated bars secured adjacent the upper and lower extremities of the frame and horizontally transverse the opening, an elongated slot formed longitudinally in each of said bars, a plurality of blind slats disposed vertically in said frame opening, each slat being provided with journals extending beyond the extremities thereof and said journals having sliding engagement in the slots of the two remote bars, a plurality of elongated plates each provided with a series of longitudinally spaced slots extending transversely from one common edge of said plates, said plates being secured adjacent both slat supporting bars to overlap the longitudinal slots therein, each transverse slot in said plates engaging one journal of one of said slats locking the slats in spaced relationship longitudinally of the support bars, spring clips secured to the frame and urging the plate members into overlapping engagement with the supporting bars, a pair of elongated rods slidably supported transverse the bottom of the frame, one of said rods having quick releasable connection with one group of said slats at a point on each of said slats eccentric to the journal axis thereof, said second rod having quick releasable connection with each of the remaining slats at points thereon eccentric to the journal axes thereof, and handle means formed on one extremity of each of said rods for moving the same transversely of the frame.

4. A Venetian blind comprising, a vertically disposed frame deningan opening to be served by the blind, a pair of elongated bars secured adjacent the upper and lower extremities of the frame and horizontally transverse the opening, a second pair of elongated bars secured in parallel adjacency horizontally transverse the frame opening centrally intermediate the height of the fram-e, an elongated slot formed longitudinally in each of said bars, a plurality of blind slats disposed vertically in said frame opening and being divided into two groups, one group of said slats being disposed vertically in that portion of the frame opening above the centrally disposed bars and the second group being disposed in that por` tion of the opening below the centrally disposed bars, each slat being provided with journals extending beyond the extremities thereof, the journals of that group in the upper portion of the frame opening being slidably retained in the slots in the upper bar and the top bar of the centrally located pair of bars, the journals of the second gro-up of slats being slidably retained in the slots in the lower frame bar and the lower bar of the central pair of bars, a plurality of elongated plates each provided with a series of longitudinally spaced slots extending transversely from one common edge of said plates, said plates being secured adjacent the Slat supporting bars to overlap the longitudinal slots therein, each transverse Slot in said plates engaging one journal of said slats supported by the adjacent bar locking the slats in spaced relationship longitudinally of the support bar, a pair of elongated rods slidably secured transversely of said frame, one of said rods having quick detachable connection with each of said slats in the upper group at a point eccentric of the journal axis thereof, and the second rod having quick detachable connection with each slat of the second group at a point eccentric to the journal axis thereof, whereby the slats of the two groups may be selectively rotated by their respective rod.

LOUIS CHARTOFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patenti UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,393,917 Snell Oct. 18, 1921 1,519,553 Riker Dec. 16, 1924 1,563,450 Snow Dec. 1, 1925 1,697,149 Stokes Jan. 1, 1929 15 1,718,754 Molina June 25, 1929 

